Inspired by another recent thread and last year's SW London Girls thread, I thought I would create a thread for those of us applying to London Day Schools. I have put independent as I think 11+ has passed for most of us. Anyone care to join?

I have a DD (10) who wants to sit CLGS and SPGS. Ideally she would like to be a music scholar so looking at schools with a strong music department that is a commutable distance.

I have DD (10) who is also interested in applying for a music scholarship depending on the school. We're SW so are looking at Putney & Wimbledon Highs, LEH and also possibly into Hammersmith ... the debate's still on.... We really liked G & L particularly and thought she would fit in well there from the girls we chatted with but aren't sure about the journey. I think we'll have a go at half term just to see what it's actually like.

"I think we'll have a go at half term just to see what it's actually like."

Sorry that this'll sound like I'm pooh-poohing, but this won't tell you what it's actually like. It'll tell you what it's like when there are no school runs going on. Can you carve out the time to have a practice run on an ordinary term-time day? Make sure you're carrying a backpack and a sports grip when you do it. And if it's raining, so much the better!

Squirm, it doesn't sound like you're pooh-poohing at all and yes, I would definitely do that if it becomes a serious contender. I'm still at the stage: 'what time would DD really have to leave home to get there on time/get there for choir before school etc rather than leaving it to TfL's weird routing and sometimes strange advice. Commute is a huge thing in my mind, not because I'm worried about DD travelling by herself, but more that I'm keen for her to have as much of the day left over for the things she enjoys once school's out; at the same time obviously we're after a school where she'll flourish academically too. Ultimately, I think we'll apply for a handful and see what offer(s) we get.

tinkerella - sorry I didn't phrase that very well. Alleyns and JAGs are indeed very competitive schools to get into - I'm just not sure that adding a further very competitive school into the mix is the right way forward for us.

I'm dithering about CLSG because of that and because of the commute.

JAGS have changed their whole entrance process this year - there's a pre-assessment morning (with a CEM reasoning test and a 'group exercise'?!) - and if you pass that they invite you back for the exam.

I don't really know about the new pre-assessment. I guess it must be because they do have so many applicants. As do all the schools. I think there are more kids staying in London rather than moving out?My DD is really happy and there is a real mix of of girls - way more diverse than her previous school, a good mix of private and state.

The JAGS version of a first sift is brand new, so there won't be anyone who can tell you what it's like.

But yes, these sorts of early sifts are becoming more frequently used as schools on SW London cannot keep up with the number of applicants.

The other approach, taken by Emanuel, is simply to close the list when it is full. This has been happening earlier and earlier (four or five years ago, it either didn't close or did so about Oct/Nov when other applications deadlines were falling anyhow. It's now back in March!

SCHS has also talked about closing the list, and have said they are getting close to the point when they might actually have to, but I don't think that's happened yet.

Do you think there are more kids or just they're applying to more schools? So whereas they used to apply to maybe 3 schools they're now applying to 5 or 6? ( or sometimes more?). Every year there seems to be a panic but at DCs state primary they are all still getting a good private option if they want one. Some of them are getting 6 offers, most at least 2. ( I may be clutching at straws as have it all to come..).

Both more DC and applying to more schools.when I first went round this, it was 2/3/4 applications per prospective pupil. Now it's 4/5/6.

It's one of the reasons BTW that forms ask where else you have applied. Registrars all talk to each other, and among other things are trying to get a feel for the number of actual children.

It's also more pressured when the economy is down - because parents might feel confident enough of keeping up with day fees but not boarding. So some that might otherwise have applied to boarding schools abandon that (even more expensive) plan.

Does it still do that! And if so, am I right in thinking 2017 is 2 form entry? So fewer places - anyone know once those moving up and siblings are accounted for (roughly) how many places that leaves up for new entrants?

I realise that this is North of the river, but in the interests of concentrating indie threads, I thought I'd post this here.

On the subject of how many to apply for and success rate, I found this from the Northbridge House prep school really interesting. Counting it up there were 40 girls in the year, who submitted around 180 applications (so just over 4 each) and got 140 offers. A fantastic success rate.

Interestingly, the applications seem very targeted as there were very few to NLCS, Habs, SPGS, and given the location of the prep school in Regent's Park, relatively few to Highgate/City. Is that because the school gives really good guidance to applicants?

A good prep will prepare its pupils week, and give good advice on which schools to aim for. And there are lots of good preppers in London.

By the time if the actual application round, people won't be comparing preps' leavers' destinations though. That would be something to consider when selecting a prep. But evidence of the number of applications per prospective pupils can take some of The Fear out of the alarming over subscription numbers.

BTW, there is a North London girls' schools thread running as well (with Northbridge House mentioned in the opening post)

at dd's school 4 applications seems to be the norm but many drop out before the interview process once they get some early offers from a preferred school. eg Surbiton offers come out mid Jan, while some schools are only sending out interview invitations.

Many schools also seem to have clashing exam dates this year. I wonder if this is deliberate? eg Surbiton & KGS, St Catherine's Twickenham and SWPS. I'm sure there are more!

It's not exactly deliberate, but if they are aiming to get offers out at about the same time then there's only so many Saturdays available (if they go in for weekends - not all schools want to run their exams on a school day, though some like Alleyns do so - in effect closing the school for the day and just calling in some year groups to assist in the candidate-wrangling)

it was similar 2 years ago. I don't know about last year. For Surbiton and KGS to have the same day is just madness - they are academically similar, both sporty, all rounded and have similar catchments.